Crybabies—Coping With Colic: What to Do When Baby Won't Stop Crying

Abstract

Colic occurs in approximately 20% of all infants during their first few months of life. Because it is a problem, both frequent and disruptive, it is of importance to parents and child health care professionals. Yet, remarkably few well-controlled, carefully designed clinical and laboratory studies of colic have been performed. Dr Weissbluth has carried out such investigations and, in this small volume, succinctly presents the thesis that grew out of his work with parents and their colicky infants. The book contains 14 chapters. It begins with the definition of colic, prolonged "inconsolable crying" in an otherwise well infant. The author reviews old theories on causation and criticizes statements from well-known pediatric behavioral scientists. He discusses basic concepts of temperament and sleep. Dr Weissbluth then presents and expands his theory that colic may represent a sleep disorder. Practical approaches to alleviating the effects of colic on the infant and family and